Washington: The US government has announced the suspension of immigration requests from 19 countries, citing a tightening of national security screenings. Critics have expressed concerns that this suspension could place thousands in legal limbo. The announcement came on Tuesday, affecting countries across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.
According to Deutsche Welle, President Donald Trump’s administration justified the decision based on national security concerns following an attack on National Guard members in Washington. The incident involved an Afghan national who was arrested as a suspect. Under the new policy, applicants from the affected nations must undergo a comprehensive vetting process, though the administration has not clarified the duration of this pause or whether additional countries might be included.
Officials stated that the policy aims to maintain the integrity of the immigration system and address “security gaps.” However, critics warn that the move could leave many individuals in a state of legal uncertainty during the review process. Some of the affected nations were already under partial travel bans, and the new measures will impose further restrictions.
The countries facing the most severe restrictions include Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. These nations experienced full suspensions on most entries in June, with limited exceptions. Meanwhile, countries such as Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela, which were under partial restrictions, will now face expanded scrutiny.
The policy mandates a hold on pending immigration applications and requires a comprehensive re-review of all cases from the affected nations. This could involve new interviews and security assessments. Sharvari Dalal-Dheini, senior director of government relations for the American Immigration Lawyers Association, reported receiving information about canceled oath ceremonies, naturalization interviews, and adjustment-of-status appointments for individuals from these countries.
Since returning to office in January, President Trump has prioritized immigration enforcement, increasing federal deployments to major US cities and limiting access to asylum at the US-Mexico border. While deportations have been a focal point of his messaging, legal immigration had received comparatively less attention until this recent policy shift.
In a related move, US federal authorities are reportedly preparing a targeted US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation in Minnesota, focusing primarily on Somali immigrants living unlawfully in the country. A source familiar with the planning told the AP news agency that an ICE operation might commence in the coming days, concentrating on individuals in the Minneapolis-St Paul area with final deportation orders.
President Trump’s recent comments on the Somali community in the state have intensified fears of profiling and inflamed concerns within the local community.